Christmas

Yes, it is about time I posted pictures of our Christmas. We went up to southern VA to visit Travis's parents, and were joined by his sister, Tawnya and her family and his brother, Cody, and his two dogs. Tawnya has two little girls, Kayleigh is 6 months older than Sydney and Madison is 2 months younger than Addyson. Madison got a little confused every time I said Addyson, and Addyson vice versa. Travis's Mom, Di, thinks we should call them Virginia and Georgia (Tawnya lives in VA too). We might have to start doing that when we are up there! Sydney and Kayleigh were thick as thieves and had a great time playing with each other. Sydney loved Uncle Cody's dogs, of course, and is still talking about them. She saw a picture of Travis's dog, Major, and wanted to know all about what he was doing in Heaven. She asks us everyday what Major and Heavenly Father are doing. So cute. The only thing Sydney asked for this year was Baby Alive, so she was more than thrilled to open her up on Christmas morning. She was so excited and said..."It's Baby Alive because I've been such a good girl!" She also got a ton of little ponies, princess stuff and a "smart cycle" which she loves to play. Addyson wants to play too, but since she's too little and Sydney doesn't want her to, she just taunts Sydney by turning it on and off. Both girls racked up this year, so I had to secretly put a lot of their old toys into a "goodwill" box one night while they were sleeping. And we still have way too many toys!

Uncle Cody helping Addyson

Addyson was thrilled with her box of balls and wasn't interested in anything else except after Travis opened part of his grill (an empty propane tank) and left a big box full of nothing but Styrofoam peanuts in it. Addyson thought this was fabulous and immediately climbed into it. She was furious with me when I finally took her out b/c she started eating the peanuts.

Sydney and Kayleigh had a great time making and leaving cookies for Santa and sprinkling reindeer food out out on the lawn on Christmas eve. They were thrilled to be able to have a "sleepover" with each other and sleep in their little mermaid sleeping bag/air beds.

Opening presents tired everyone out!

My girls were thrilled to get home and see that Santa had made a visit to our house as well and filled their stockings and left a big red Santa bag full of gifts for them under the tree. Annie and Poppy had also been over and left a darling pottery barn table and chairs for them as well.

It was time to clean up Christmas and Sydney did better than I expected about not being too upset, but was very disappointed when "Soley Doley" her "elf on the shelf" had to fly back to be with his wife and Santa until next year.

I was bummed, as always, to have to put up the decorations because the house just looks so empty without them! No, however, I actually can decorate my new house for real b/c since we've moved in we've had holiday decorations (Halloween, thanksgiving, Christmas).